News
February 9, 2012
The Embassy of the Republic of Zaqistan in Argentina closed its doors at the Nuevo Museo Energía de Arte Contemporáneo with a day filled with events that brought together young and old in celebration of our great nation. The schedule started with a second session of our Nation Building children's workshop, where the island of Felixtán was born.
Later in the day, we had the honor of hosting Axel Lazzari PhD, an Argentine professor in Anthropology who specializes in the study of the Rankulche indigenous people that inhabit the desert of La Pampa in Central Argentina. Lazzari, Zaqistan founder and Maximum Leader Zaq Landsberg and Secretary of State Sofía Gallisá Muriente discussed their perspectives on the desert, the Republic of Zaqistan and what lies ahead. We were joined by an enthusiastic audience that extended the conversation well into the night.
Once things wrapped up, everyone partook in the traditional Zaqistani Drinking of the Beer, with music provided by new citizen Daniel Ojeda while excited visitors filled out passport applications everywhere in what could be easily considered a successful and joyous farewell. The embassy leaves Argentina with tens of new (and extremely good-looking) citizens and passport holders, a newfound sense of triumph and a stomach full of pizza.
February 3rd, 2012
Diplomacy in Argentina
Our Maximum Leader, Zaq Landsberg and Secretary of State Sofía Gallisá Muriente commemorated the fallen soldiers from the War of Malvinas (Falkland Islands) by showing their respects with a flower wreath, presented in the Plaza San Martín Fallen Soldiers Memorial in Buenos Aires, Argentina. The subject is a close one for Argentines, expressed commonly with the much-graffitied message: ¡Las Malvinas fueron, son y serán argentinas! (The Falklands Islands were, are, and will be Argentine) The enormous offering was prepared in the neighborhood of Almagro by some new friends of our nation. The tribute was documented by Marina Reyes Franco, Director of the Nuevo Museo Energía de Arte Contemporáneo.
January 31, 2012
The Embassy of Zaqistan, Buenos Aires is officially open for business. The grand opening ceremony was a great success, and dozens of Argentineans young and old came to support the nation. Questions as to whether the ideas of Zaqistan can communicate cross languages and cultures were thoroughly dispelled, and the nation has gained new citizens, new supporters and new energy.
Informative displays educate the general public about Zaqistan history and culture.
Spirits are high and new citizens are excited to join the Zaqistan Nation.
Zaqistani representatives, Zaq Landsberg and Sofía Gallisá Muriente are currently in Argentina, spreading goodwill and pursuing Zaqistan's diplomatic agenda.
January 20, 2012
The Zaqistan State Department is pleased to announce the opening of the first Zaqistan Embassy in Buenos Aires, Argentina. There will be a formal opening ceremony on Tuesday, January 24 beginning at 7:30pm. Run in conjunction with Nuevo Museo Energía de Arte Contemporáneo, the Embassy will be open for the next three weeks.
The Embassy of Zaqistan is an effort to expand Zaqistan’s global presence and influence beyond its desert borders. Buenos Aires, being an international city, a hub of South America, and also having a rich cultural history, especially in reactionary conceptual art, is a natural place to extend the reach of Zaqistan.
The Embassy features a History of Zaqistan exhibit, historicizing the recent past in display cases with artifacts and wildlife specimens, photographs, maps, wall texts, a timeline, and educational videos. There will also be a naturalization/passport station, where visitors may choose to become citizens, take the oath, apply and get issued a passport.
The Embassy will also function as a space for Zaqistani outreach through public programming. One such outreach program is a nationbuilding workshop for children, where local youth will found and develop their own nations. Other outreach projects in development include lectures on Zaqistani History and Zaqistan in historical context, desert survival demonstrations, and the designing, publishing, and translating of Zaqistani texts.
Below are the revelant details:
La República de Zaqistán se honra en invitarles a la apertura de su nueva embajada en la República Argentina, a ser inaugurada el próximo día 24 de enero de 2012 a partir de las 19:30 horas, en las facilidades de el Nuevo Museo Energía de Arte Contemporáneo en la Avenida Santa Fé 2729, 1er piso, local #34 en la ciudad de Buenos Aires.
El Venerable Dictador de Zaqistán, Zaq Landsberg y la Ministra de Relaciones Exteriores, Sofía Gallisá Muriente estarán presentes en esta histórica velada.
Habrán solicitudes de pasaporte disponibles para los presentes que quieran adquirir ciudadanía a esta gloriosa república, así como una muestra de la historia y cultura Zaqistaní y una tienda de souvenirs, entre otros. Además, como es costumbre para el pueblo Zaqistaní, celebraremos la ocasión con ritmos bailables, bebidas refrescantes y alguno que otro comestible.
La ceremonia de apertura, así como los eventos culturales y educativos que estaremos organizando en el próximo mes como parte de nuestro calendario diplomático, están abiertos al público general. La embajada estará abierta de martes a jueves 15:00-19:00hs hasta el 9 de febrero, o por cita escribiendo a info@laene.org.
Para más información sobre la embajada de la República de Zaqistán, visite LaEne.org
January 10, 2012
This overhaul of the website includes a more complete history of the Republic and a collection of projects supported by the Zaqistan Arts Council over the past three years. Below is the recap of the last trip.
In the summer of 2011, the Seventh Expedition to Zaqistan departed from Brooklyn, NY. The Expedition was graciously hosted en route by The Experimental Station, in Chicago IL. Landsberg lectured on the geopolitical implications of running an unrecognized country and the history of previous Zaqistan expeditions. The next day, a group of local youths participated in a Nation building workshop, where they created their own countries, drew maps, made flags and determined what forms of government they would implement.
President Downtown Fast Eddie, parades the flag of his nation Fast Eddieville
The Seventh Expedition, comprised of Ingrid Burrington, Alex Collins-Shotwell, Arion Doerr, Jon Huron, Henry Kaplan and Zaq Landsberg left with the goal of developing infrastructure and restoring what's currently in Zaqistan. The Expedition rented an ATV , in an attempt to solve the ongoing problem of how to to transport building and survival supplies over the rough terrain to Zaqistan. The experiment was partially successful, the ATV hauled a large amount of water and supplies before puncturing a tire and rendering the vehicle immobile. A significant amount of energy went into solving the problem of how to get the ATV with three good wheels across two miles of open desert, and another 15 or so miles on dirt roads back to the trailer. This problem was solved with help from an intrepid local from Montello, NV who took his truck off-road far enough so the ATV could be nursed into the bed of the truck and back to the trailer.
Another wild surprise came in the form of visitors. For the first time in seven years, people with no previous connection to the country, entered its boundaries. Two retired men from Ogden Utah, who make it their hobby to explore remote sites in the desert, had heard rumors of something strange in the vicinity of Zaqistan. Having previously seen the glint of the robots from a small plane, they decided to check it out and happened upon the Seventh Expedition to Zaqistan. They were welcomed through the customs booth/immigration station before making their way back to the dirt road.
Landsberg grants access to the first ever visitors to Zaqistan
The mystery of the disappearance of the Geodesic dome was solved on this trip, it was discovered 1/3 of a mile from it's previous location at the Zaqopolis. Whether it had been blown by wind or moved by humans remains unclear.
In an effort to provide lasting shelter from the elements, the Seventh Expedition began work on a sandbag bunker. The crew cut into a gentle slope in an effort to blend the building into the landscape. They filled sandbags rapidly, and within three days of tough but constant digging, raised a sturdy and lasting structure.
Ingrid Burrington installed Secret Device for Remote Places on the outskirts of Zaqistan.